Elastic eraser band and methods of use

ABSTRACT

An eraser is provided which incorporates a fabric arranged as a band. The fabric may include an elastic material and an eraser material.

This application claims priority to U.S. provisional patent application 60/976,895, filed Oct. 2, 2007, the entirety of which is hereby incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND

This invention relates to an eraser and more particularly to an eraser in the form of an elastic band.

Erasable surfaces, such as chalkboards, electronic chalkboards, and dry-erase boards, are staples in classrooms and conference rooms across the world. They provide a surface upon which educators and presenters convey information to their audiences. Inevitably, once a mistake is made or the board is filled with information, the communicator must correct the error or make room for additional information by erasing some or all erasable markings, such as chalk, electronic, or dry-erase marker, from the board. Naturally, the quicker a communicator can erase the unwanted information, the quicker he/she can return to displaying new and correct information. However, the communicator must often take the time to retrieve an eraser from an eraser tray, move the eraser back to the location of the error, and then proceed to erase. Alternatively, the communicator must hold the eraser with the non-writing hand and then erase with the generally non-dexterous hand; or actively hold the eraser with the non-writing hand and then proceed to erase by switching the eraser to the dexterous hand. In either case, both hands are occupied and additional time is spent manipulating both writing and erasing implements.

Moreover, time spent erasing is markedly prolonged whenever small, erroneous markings warrant immediate correction. Very often, in the interest of time, a communicator is drawn to using his/her bare hand to make a small correction, leaving his/her hand covered in chalk dust or ink, and the writing surface blotched. From just extended holding or handling of the chalk or marker while writing, the communicator is often left with hands covered in chalk dust and marks. With respect to electronic or touch screen based boards, use of a bare hand can leave bodily excretions (e.g, oils, sweat) on the touch screen resulting in obscured words and pictures.

What is needed is an eraser that allows a user to erase without having to pickup or hold an eraser, and allows the user to conveniently make corrections (e.g., using hands or fingers) while keeping the hands or fingers clean and/or leaving the writing surface clean.

BRIEF SUMMARY

Various exemplary embodiments provide an elastic eraser band that may be worn around portions of the hand and a method for erasing marks from an erasable surface using the elastic eraser band.

In one embodiment, the eraser includes a fabric that is formed as a band and is sized to fit around a portion of a user's hand. The fabric can include, for example, an elastic material and an eraser material.

In another embodiment, a method of erasing erasable markings from an erasable surface is provided, which includes putting on an eraser band and wiping the erasable surface with the eraser band to erase a mark.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing and other aspects of the invention will be better understood from the following detailed description, which is provided in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic perspective view of an embodiment as seen from the back-side of the hand;

FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. 1 as seen from the front-side of the hand;

FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. 1 while writing with a piece of chalk;

FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. 1 while writing with a dry-erase marker;

FIG. 5 shows a method of erasing a chalkboard while holding a piece of chalk;

FIG. 6 shows an exemplary method of erasing a dry-erase board while holding a dry-erase marker;

FIG. 7 shows an exemplary method of erasing a chalkboard without holding a piece of chalk;

FIG. 8 shows an exemplary method of erasing a dry-erase board without holding a marker;

FIG. 9 is a diagrammatic perspective view of another embodiment worn, for example, around a finger;

FIG. 10 is a diagrammatic perspective view of another embodiment wrapped around a finger; and

FIG. 11 shows an exemplary method of erasing a chalkboard.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Embodiments of the present invention relate to an elastic eraser band that may be worn around portions of a user's hand or portion thereof (e.g., palm or fingers) and used to erase erasable marks, such as chalk, dry-erase ink, electronic, or other erasable marks, from an erasable surface, such as a chalk-board, a dry-erase board, electronic chalkboard, computer touch screen, or other erasable surfaces.

FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary eraser band 102 according to an embodiment of the invention and arranged on a user's hand 101 so that the eraser band 102 extends around the back of a user's hand 101. FIG. 2 illustrates the tubular eraser band 102 also extending across the palm of the user's hand 101.

In one embodiment, the eraser band 102 can be made of a fabric that includes an elastic material and an eraser material. The elastic material gives the eraser band 102 an elastic property so that the eraser band 102 may fit snuggly around various portions of a user's hand 101. The elastic material may include elastic materials such as rubber or commercially known polymers, such as spandex, anidex, and other elastomeric fibers, but is not limited to these fibers. The elastic material may be arranged, for example, in the form of threads or bands.

The eraser band 102 also includes an eraser material, where eraser material is defined herein as being a material that removes erasable marks from an erasable surface when applied to the marks. As such, the eraser material may include material with properties to remove erasable marks, such as chalk dust and dry-erase ink, and may include materials such as polyester eraser felt or terry cloth. The eraser material may be arranged in the form of threads or sheets.

In one embodiment, the fabric may be a woven fabric having elastic warp threads interwoven with weft eraser threads. In another embodiment, the eraser material can transmit pressure, heat, friction, magnetic or other forces to an electronic chalkboard or touchscreen resulting in removal or other alteration to marks or other information contained in, for example, pixels on the electronic chalkboard or screen.

The eraser band 102 may include one or more layers of fabric. In one embodiment, the eraser band 102 may be formed as a continuous tube, such that the eraser band 102 has a totally enclosed inner cavity that extends around the circumference of the eraser band 102. In various embodiments, the eraser band 102 may include multiple layers of fabric that may be the same or different. In one embodiment, the eraser band may include an inner layer of fabric and an outer layer of fabric. The inner layer of fabric may be formed in such a way as to minimize the scattering of particulate matter, such as chalk dust, and prevent the particulate matter from getting onto a user's hands. In one embodiment, the inner fabric may be formed of a smaller thread and/or use a tighter weave than the outer fabric such that the inner fabric is less permeable by particulate matter. The outer fabric may use a larger thread and/or use a looser weave such that the outer fabric more easily removes erasable marks.

In one embodiment, such as the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the eraser band 102 may be in the form of a band having a uniform width. For example, the band may have a width of about 1 mm to about 70 mm, more preferably about 20 mm to about 50 mm, and most preferably 40 mm. In another embodiment, the eraser band 102 may include a cut out portion to accommodate a user's thumb such that the eraser band 102 may fit lower across a user's hand 101. In another embodiment, the eraser band may have width that varies at different portions, such as having a smaller width at an area to be arranged at a user's thumb and a larger width at an area arranged across a user's palm and the back of the hand. For example, the width at an area adapted to cover a user's thumb may be from about 1 mm to about 50 mm, more preferably about 15 mm to about 40 mm, and most preferably 22 mm.

In another embodiment, the eraser band may include thicker or thinner material. The thickness can vary based on the components of the material and/or the number of layers of materials used. In one embodiment, the eraser band may have thicker material in an area that will cover the palm and back of the hand and thinner material elsewhere on the eraser band. For example, the material in the area adapted to cover the palm and back of the hand will vary in thickness from about 1 mm to about 20 mm, more preferably from about 5 mm to about 15 mm, and most preferably about 12 mm. Other portions of the eraser band may vary in thickness from about 1 mm to about 10 mm, more preferably from about 2 mm to about 7 mm, and most preferably about 5 mm.

As shown in the embodiments of FIGS. 1 and 2, the eraser band 102 may be a continuous band of material. In another embodiment, the eraser band 102 may be a strip of material that may be formed into a band and held by a fastener such as hook and loop, (e.g., VELCRO®), buttons, snaps, pin, zipper, or other fastening means.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the dimensions of the eraser band 102 may be arranged such that the eraser band slips easily and comfortably onto a user's hand, encircling the palm and back of the hand snugly. Snugly is defined herein, in one embodiment, as being held resiliently and firmly in place on a user's hand by the tension of the elastic material, but not being so tight as to be uncomfortable or restrict blood flow to any portion of the user's hand 101. In one embodiment, the eraser band 102 may be provided as a “one-size-fits-all” device. In another embodiment, the eraser band 102 may be individually sized for a particular user.

FIG. 3 shows the eraser band 102 on a user's hand 101, while the user is writing with a piece of chalk 303. Similarly, FIG. 4 shows the eraser band 102 on a user's hand 102 while the user is writing with a dry-erase marker 404. It can be seen from FIGS. 3 and 4 that the eraser 102 may be worn on the hand 101 that a user writes with and may be worn while a user is actually writing.

FIG. 5 shows an exemplary method of using the eraser band 102 to erase chalk marks 507 from a chalk board 505. After the eraser band 102 is placed over the hand 101, the user may move the eraser band 102 across the chalk marks 507 to erase the chalk marks 507 from the chalk board 505. As demonstrated by the method shown in FIG. 5, the user need not put down the chalk 303 before erasing the chalk marks 507. FIG. 6 shows a method similar to that of FIG. 5, except that the user is erasing dry-erase ink marks 607 from a dry-erase board 606, while holding a dry-erase marker 404.

FIG. 7 shows another method of using the eraser band 102 to erase chalk marks 507 from a chalk board 505. In the method shown in FIG. 7, the user is not holding a piece of chalk, but instead has made a first with his or her hand 101. Alternatively, the user could wipe the chalk marks using the palm or the back of an open hand 101. FIG. 8 shows a method similar to that of FIG. 7, except that the user is erasing dry-erase ink marks 607 from a dry-erase board 606 without holding a dry-erase marker.

FIG. 9 illustrates an exemplary eraser band 902 sized to fit on a user's hand 101 on one of the user's fingers 902. The eraser band 902 may be used for precision erasing of smaller erasable markings from an erasable board. The eraser band 902 may be sized such that it slips easily onto a user's thumb or finger, encircling the digit snugly.

FIG. 10 illustrates an exemplary eraser band 1002 having a closed end, such that the eraser band 1002 is configured as a cot. The eraser band 1002 may be sized such that it encircles a user's digit 907 snuggly. The length of the eraser band 1002 may be such that it covers the user's entire finger 907 or only a portion thereof.

FIG. 11 shows an exemplary method of using the eraser band 1002 to erase chalk marks 507 from a chalk board 505. As shown in FIG. 11, the user is erasing a small portion of the chalk marks 507 with precision. In the method shown in FIG. 11, the user is not holding a piece of chalk, but in other embodiments, the user may erase a mark while holding a writing implement.

The methods and devices described above illustrate preferred methods and typical devices of many that could be used and produced. The above description and drawings illustrate embodiments, which achieve the objects, features, and advantages of the present invention. However, it is not intended that the present invention be strictly limited to the above-described and illustrated embodiments. For example, the methods of erasing should not be limited to those illustrated in the drawings. Additionally, any modifications, though presently unforeseeable, of the present invention that come within the spirit and scope of the following claims should be considered part of the present invention. 

1. An eraser comprising: a fabric adapted to fit around a portion of a user's hand, wherein the fabric comprises an elastic material and an eraser material.
 2. The eraser of claim 1, wherein the elastic material comprises elastic threads and the eraser material comprises eraser material threads.
 3. The eraser of claim 1, wherein the elastic threads are arranged in a warp direction, and wherein the eraser material threads are arranged in a weft direction.
 4. The eraser of claim 1, wherein the eraser material comprises loosely twisted polyester eraser felt.
 5. The eraser of claim 1, wherein the eraser material comprises terry cloth.
 6. The eraser of claim 1, wherein the band is sized to fit snugly around a user's palm.
 7. The eraser of claim 1, wherein the band is sized to fit snugly around a user's finger.
 8. The eraser of claim 1, wherein the band is configured as a cot and is sized to fit snugly on a user's finger.
 9. The eraser of claim 1, wherein the fabric comprises multiple layers of fabric.
 10. The eraser of claim 9, wherein the fabric comprises an inner fabric and an outer fabric, and wherein the inner fabric is less permeable than the outer fabric, and wherein the outer fabric is more absorbent than the inner fabric.
 11. An elastic eraser band comprising: a fabric arranged as a band and adapted to fit around a portion of a user's hand, wherein the fabric comprises elastic threads arranged in a warp direction and eraser material threads arranged in a weft direction.
 12. The elastic eraser band of claim 11, wherein the elastic threads comprise rubber and the eraser material threads comprise terry cloth.
 13. The elastic eraser of claim 11, wherein the band is sized to fit snugly around a user's palm.
 14. The elastic eraser of claim 11, wherein the band is configured as a cot and is sized to fit snugly on a user's finger.
 15. The elastic eraser of claim 11, wherein the fabric comprises multiple layers of fabric, wherein the fabric comprises an inner fabric and an outer fabric, wherein the inner fabric is less permeable than the outer fabric, and wherein the outer fabric is more absorbent than the inner fabric.
 16. A method of erasing an erasable mark from an erasable surface comprising: putting an elastic eraser band onto a user's hand; and wiping the erasable surface with the elastic eraser band to erase the erasable mark.
 17. The method of claim 16, further comprising holding a writing implement in the user's hand while moving the elastic eraser band on the erasable surface.
 18. The method of claim 16, further comprising putting the tubular eraser band on the user's hand such that it is arranged across the palm of the user's hand.
 19. The method of claim 16, further comprising putting the tubular eraser band on the user's hand such that it is arranged around a finger of the user's hand.
 20. The method of claim 16, further comprising putting the tubular eraser band on the user's hand such that it is arranged around and covering a tip of a finger of the user's hand. 